Damper



C. H. WEISKOPF DAMPER Apri@ 30, B935.

Filed Sept. 25, 1931 Egg.

6 Sheets-Sheet l l N VEN TOR.-

A TTORNE YS.

IPH' 3U, 1935. c. H, WEISKOPF LQQQIAQZ DAMPER Filed Sept4 23, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN YS.

AWM 3@ w35- c. H. WEISKOPF L999A92 DAMPER Filed Sept. 23, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 f INVENTOR.

A TTORNE YS.

pxr 99, 11.93. c. H. WEISKOPF DAMPER Filed Sept. 25, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet y 5 April 30, 1935. c. H. WElsKoPF DAMPER Filed Sept. 23, 1931 G Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR fezs my p. MM'

@qui W. ATTORNEYS.

@a/es I Patented Apr. 3i), 1935 UNITED stares manif PATENT' @LEF-EGE DAB/[PER- Charles H. Weiskopf, I-lawthorne,Y Calif., assigner to International Precipitation'Company, Los Angeles; Calif., aborporation of California' Application September, 1931; Serial` No: 5645693 6l Claims. (Cl. 251--51) This invention relates to dampers for con'- troliinglor shuttingoff gas-passages or openingsk and is` particularly applicable to the regulation and"- shutting off of gas flow in fines or similar passages. The damper may be used, however,

for control oi flow of any fluid.

The principal object of-'the invention is to provide a damper' in which a minimumv power eX- penditure is required for effecting operation of the'dampento different positions. A particular object in this connection is to provide'a damper comprising two movable damper members so mounted as to counterbalance one another an sol/constructed and operated thatone oi said damper members moves upwardly While the other moves downwardly', and that movement of the respectiveI damper members upwardly or down- W'ardlyserves `to variably 'open or close the passage iii-which said damperis mounted. A further-object of the invention is to provide a damper iir'whicli aminimum amount or movement is'required'to move the damper from its full open position to clos-ed' position;I so that any desiredfregulation* or 'shutting ofi oi thegas il'ow' may be quicklyeiected.'

A? further object of the invention is to provide av damper construction comprising two movableV damper-"membersadapted to be moved` to lopen or closed position andiprovided With Wedgemeans operable upon movement of said damper members to closed position to force said' damper meme bers `.into substantially tight engagement with one anotherfand with nxedl abutment'means so as to providev a substantially gas tight seal.

A-furtherob`ject of the inventionis to provide additionallocking means' operable to force said damper members, when'in closed position, into stilltighter engagement with one another and withsaid xedabutment means so as to still further reduce the possibility' o'ileakage` of gaspast said damper;

'I'hedamper of thepresent invention comprises, in'general,- two damper members so mounted as to vcounter-balance one 'another and each pro;V videdwith baffle means preferably comprising a plurality of bailie plates with openings therebetween, and operating means for moving the respectivedamper members upwardly and' downwardly and in opposite directions soas` to bring theibalefplates 'onL the respective damper members into'or` out oflregister with the openings' on the other damper member. Said movable damper members may be operable Vin themselves to completely obstruct-thepassage in which they.` are mounted,l When-moved toi closed position, or theyv may be adapted to cooperate With fixed bafe plates for thispurpose. Fixed abutment means are preferably provided adjacent one of saiddamper members-and at the-opposite-'side there of `trom the other damper member, and said other damper member is preferably provided with wedge means, the construction also comprising fixed wedge-engaging means in position to engage said first-named wedge means upon movement ,of the damper members to closed position and force said damperv members relatively toward one anotherl and toward said fixed abutment means for the purposerof providing a substantially gas tight seal.

There are also preferably provided additional locking-means operable to force said damper membersinto still tighter engagement with one another and with said fixed abutmentmeans-whensaid damper members are in closed'position, for

the purpose oi providing a still more positive seal against leakage of gas past the damper.

Certain examples of damper constructions embodying this invention are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and referring thereto:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of aform of damper according to this invention, in which the two movable damper members serve, in themselves, to provide complete closure or obstruction of thepassage in which they are mounted, when in closed position, said section beingwtaken. on liner i-l lin Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is afvertical section thereoffon Alined-2 in Fig. l. v

Fig.` 3` is a vertical section on line: 3-3vfin. Fig.- 2` with-the damper members in closedposition Figil is a'section'onV line l--d ink 2 with thedamper members in'open position.

Fig. 5 isvan'enlarged. vertical section of the upper portion-,of the dampermembersand associated tightening,` mechanism, in the'v position shown' in Fig; 3.

Fig; 6l yis---adetail horizontaly section on line .iS- ii` iii-Fig: 5; showing the'wedge means.`

Fig. 7- is-a-.detailfhorizontal section on. line 'L -'iin Figi.' 5, showing :af-portion of the additional locking-means.

Fig'. 8 is a'vertical section of ypartof .they operatingmechanism for the additional locking means, taken on line 3 8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 92 isa horizontal section of a-modified formof damper according to this invention inwhich fixed baille means are provided, which cooperate with the barile meansofthefrespective damper memberslto providek complete closure or obstruction. or: the passage in which the damper.l is` mounted.-

respectively,

Fig. l() is a vertical section on line IU-I in Fig. 9, showing the damper members in closed position.

Fig. 1l is a similar view showingl the damper members in open position.

Figs. l2 and 13 are enlarged vertical sections v of portions of the damper construction, with the damper members in the positions shown in Figs. l and ll respectively.

In the drawings, the damper means controlling a flue or passage is shown as of duplicate construction comprising two d-amper sections of identical construction extending side by side. It will be understood that one, or any desired number of damper sections, may be used.

The form of damper shown in Figs. l to 8 inclusive, comprises two vertically disposed damper members I and 2 extending in parallelism and in proximity to one another transversely within a flue or gas passage 3 dened by side walls il, top wall and bottom walls 6. Said bottom walls are shown as sloping inwardly and downwardly so as to form adust-receiving hopper below said ue or'gas passage. Adjacent the position of the damper, and surrounding the opening tobe controlled thereby, are provided fixed abutment means comprising side members 1 secured to the respective side walls a top member 8 secured to a beam 9 extending across just beneath the top wall 5, and a bottom member I8 secured to a beam II extending across the lower edge of the gas passage. Said abutment members are provided with vertical sealing faces 1', 8 and i8 respectively at the I'side toward the damper members, all of said sealing faces being shown as disposed in a common vertical plane.

The dampers I and 2 are shown as each comprising a plurality of baille members I3 and I4 extending vertically and spaced apart in the respective dampers so as to provide open spaces I5 and i3 therebetween. Each of said barile members is formed of one or more metallic plates. In the construction illustrated '-the dampers are shown as provided at their outer vertical edges with vertical frame members I1 and Vi8 respectively and at their inner vertical edges with vertical frame members I9 and 28 respectively.

The vertical frame members I1 of the two sections of damper member I extend alongside the side abutment members 'I and are provided with-bearing faces. I1' adapted to engage the faces 1 of said abutment members, and additional xed vertical abutment members 2| are also provided midway of the width of the gas passage having bearing faces 2I' engaged by bearing faces I8' on the inner vertical frame members I9 of ysaid two sections. Each damper-member I and 2 is shown as further comprising a top horizontal frame member 23 and a bottom horizontal frame member 24 extending respectively above and below both sections of said damper member and secured to the vertical frame members I1 and I9 of both said sections so as to secure both of said sections rigidly together to form a single damper member. Said top and bottom frame members are provided with bearing faces 22 and 24 respectively, adapted to engage the bearing "faces 8 and respectively of the top and bottom fixed abutment members 8 and IQ. The vertical plate baille members I3 of each section of each damper member I and 2 are secured at their lateral edges to the outer and inner vertical iframe members I1 and I9 respectively,land Vertical spacer members 26 also secured to said frame members I1 and I9 are provided between the adjacent edges of adjacent baffle members. Said baille members are shown as provided with horizontally disposed flanges 21 at their upper and lower edges and with vertically disposed flanges 28 at their lateral edges, said flanges 28 serving for connection thereof to the frame members I1 and I9, and the top and bottom flanges 21 abutting against, and being preferably secured to, Webportions 29 on the spacing members 26.

Additional spacing and reenforcing members 3| are also preferably provided at the mid-lengthv of the respective baille members,` and similar members 3| are also preferably provided between adjacent baille members at the mid-length thereof for increasing the rigidity of the structure. The vertical distance from the upper edge of the uppermost baille I3 to the lower edge of the lowermost baille is approximately equal to the height of the opening between the fixed top and bottom members 8 and IU, and the top flange of the uppermost baille member and the bottom flange of the lowermost baffle member are secured to the top damper frame member 23 and bottom damper frame member 24 respectively.

The damper members I and 2 are mounted on supporting means providing for vertical movement of said members in opposite directions, so as to effect the opening and closing of the apertures therein and so that said members mutually counter-balance one another inall positions of movement thereof. For this purpose a suspension bolt 35 extending upwardly from each of said members through 'an opening in the top of the flue 3 is connected to a chain or other flexible supporting member 36 running over a pulley 31 on a supporting shaft 38 which is mounted in bearings 39 on a frame 40 supported on the top frame beams 9. Operation of shaft 38 for control of the damper may be effected by any suitable means, for example by electric motor 4I, Whose shaft 42 is connected through reducing gearing 43 to the shafts 38 for the duplicate sets of damper members. Said motor is connected in the usual manner to any suitable energizing circuit including control means, whereby the damper operating mechanism may be operated in one direction or the other as desired.

To facilitate relative vertical movement of the damper members, it is desirable that the same should normally operate freely or with a loose engagement, and in order to tightly close the damper means it is desirable to provide means for forcing said damper members into tight engagement when they arevbrought to closed position. For this purpose wedges 45 may be provided on the damper member 2 adapted to engage fixed Wedges 46 on brackets 34 and 41 mounted'on vertical supporting frame members 32 and 33, so that as the damper member 2 descends to closed position the engagement of said wedges will force said damper member into close contact with the damper member I. The brackets 34 at each side of the damper frame are shown as comprising plates secured to vertical frame members 32 extending alongside passage 3, and the brackets 41 at the mid-width of the damper are mounted on a frame column 33 extending back of the damper and supported on plates 33 secured to frame members 2I and extending between the damper sections. Each wedge 45 at the mid-width of the damper may be mounted as shown on a plate 45 connected to the frame members of both ofthe damper sections 2 so as to rigidly .connectfsaid Ydampersections.I To provide for adiustmentof swedges.Mirthe same may. be` slidably mounted ,on `v`bolts-.146' `o'n plates 34. 4and brackets 4l respectively, and .adjusted :by screwsli on brackets :34' secured to plates 34 .and oniplates 4lsecured to .column .33. In some cases itxisdesirable to :provide `aftighter engagement than .can be effected by .such wedge. means,xand for'this purpose I may provide supplementary tightening means lcomprising levers i8 supported, for example, on plates 34 .on the side frame members 32 and Yprovided with adjustable contact means, `such as screws 49 (see Figs..5 and v7), adapted to engage the damper membergZfat .suitable pointsthereon to Vforce the same against the damper member l. Said levers 48 maybe connected through arms .5B `to anoperating Abar 5I which is connected torod. 5S.4 pivoted at 53 to .an operating vearn 154 Vmounted on. the top wall 5 of flue landprovided with an operating handle 55,

said cambeing'provided withawheel 5,5 pivotally mountedvv thereon at` 51 Vand riding -on arail 58 mounted on top of flue 3, insuch manner that as the lever is operatedin one direction or the other, cam 154, in cooperation with "rail58 operates to raise or lower vrod v522. `In suchoperation pivots E13-and 5l pass .dead center position with respect to lthe vertical .direction of the force exerted thereon 'so that the tightening. means will remain automatically in either position to which it is moved.

Inthe operation of the damper, 4assuming that the damper ,means is in the open position shown in Figa 4,andit is desired to close the same, electricmotor His set-in operaitionso ,as to rotate the shafts in suchmannerrthat the damper members 2 are caused to descend andlthedamper mer-nbers` i are caused to rise until the respective baiiie means i4 of the damper members 2 are brought opposite the openings i5 in the damper members isoas teshut oi passage of gas through the damper. Asl the damper members approach such closed position, the wedges i5 on damper member engage -withxed wedges 45 to force the damper-member 2 toward and against the damper member l (which is held from displacementby abutment Ameans fi, `8 and ld) to more eectively close the damper. If a still more efiective closure is required, the same may be obtained by throwing over the operating handle to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby lifting the rod-52 and bar 5i and turning levers 48 so as to bring the contact means 49 thereon into engagement with the damper member 2 and force the same positively into tight contact with the damper member i.

In case regulation or partial closure of the damper is required, the operationof the electric motor will be so controlled as to arrest the closing movement of the damper members to provide the desired amount of opening between the baffle means I3 and I4 thereof.

With the above described construction it is possible to obtain a total aperture area of approxiaperturese therebetween, yorto bebrought :out

vof register so as to close the openingsfas :shown infFigs. lOand 12.

TheLXed damper Vplates or baiiies 15! arelshown asmountedon vertical frame members v't8 extending alongside of the passagecontrolledfby the` damper, .and .the damper member 5I is provided V,with vertical flange means :6e adaptedto ride on or adjacent to a vertical facei't on said vertical'bar 58 and with baiile lplates G3 connecting-,saidange means and spaced apart to providefapertures. Bar 58 ismountedon side plates-'il `at the respective sides of the `nueor passage controiled by the damper and secured tothe 'side 4walls l2 ofthe flue. Suitable 'iframe meansfl :and182 are also Aprovided at top and bottom of the dampeigias in the for-m above described, the damper member -i closing against frame means 8l at the top and against the lowermost xed baiile 55 at the bottom. Damper memberf-SI is also provided with transverse-bars-GS extending across between the side members (S9 at the mid-height of the apertures between the respectivebaiile members 53, in order to close the space between xed lbaffles k6B and baffle members 64 Vof damper member V5i. when the damper is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1G.

' Damper member 52 is provided with side rails orflange means 'i3 and with bailie plates 54 connecting said-side rails and spaced vapart to pro- .vide apertures. 'Ihe Ytwormovable'damper members 6| and 52'areconnected together and supported-by suitable means (not shown) such as above described in connection with the forms shown in Figs. l to 9, so-as'to provide for simultaneous'yertical voperation ofthev two damper members in opposite directions and for mutual counter-balance of same;

If desired, wedge means 'I9 may be provided on damper means'? engaging with 'xed wedge means I8 on brackets ilattached to the side plate 'El aforesaid, so as to force the damper member 52 over and against the damper member 6I and l1t-*the same time 'force the damper member '6I against theiXed damper plates 5i] when the parts are irrclosedposition shown in Fig. 10. r It will be seenthat bymaking'the respective damper parts 6e, 5S and 54% of equal width, the total aperture obtained when the damper is wide open may be made approximately equal to twothirds of the total area of the damper.

The damper plates ED may be provided with reenforcing members 85 similar to those above described. If desired, additional tightening means may be provided, comprising operating rods 86, contact levers 83, links 84 connecting said operating rods and contact levers, and means such as above described for operating said rods to cause the contact levers to bear on the outermost damper member so as to cause tightening of both of the movable damper members against the fixed damper member.

With either of the above described forms of my invention, the power required to operate the damper means is reduced to a minimum by reason of the mutual counter-balancing of the damper members. Furthermore, on account of the plurality of damper openings provided in each damper member, and also on account of the motion in opposition of the two damper members, the movement of the damper members required to produce a given total opening is reduced toV a minimum, such movement being approximately equal to one-half of the heightof one ofthe openings between adjacent baiile means.

I claim:

1. In combination with algas passage, a damper comprising two vertical damper members extending transversely of said passage and in close proximity to one another, supporting means Yfor said damper members providing for simultaneous vertical movement of same in opposite directions and for mutual counter-balance of said damper members in all positions of such movement thereof, said damper members being each provided with a plurality of baffle plates and with openings betweensaid bae plates so as to vary the total aperture of the damper on .variation of relative position of the damper members, said damper members being so connected as to cause the same to move in opposite directions throughout vtheir travel from an open position in which the openings in the two members are in aligneV ment with one another and a closed position in which-the baiiie plates of each damper member fully obstruct the openings of the other damper member, and means for simultaneously moving said damper members in opposite directions between said open and closed positions.

2. A damper comprising two vertical damper members extending in proximity with one another, supporting means for said damper members providing for vertical movementY of said members inv opposite directions and for mutualcounter-balance ofY saidv damper members, said damperl members being each provided with a plurality of baiTle plates and with openings between said bafe plates so `as to vary the' total aperture of the damper upon variation of the relative position of the damper members, means for operating said supporting means for the damper members to simultaneously-operate said members in opposite directions, and means for forcing said damper members into close .engagement with one another when the same are brought to position to close the damper aperture.

3. A damper comprising two vertical damper members extending in proximity with one 'another, supporting means for said damperv members providing for vertical movement of said members in opposite directions and for mutual counter-balance of said damper members, said damper members being each provided with a plurality of baifle plates and with openings between said baiile plates so as to vary the total aperture of the damper upon variation of the relative position vof the damper members, means for operating said supportingmeans for the damper members to simultaneously operate said members in opposite directions, xed wedge means, and

wedge means mounted on one of said damper members and adapted .to engage said fixed wedge means t0 force the damper members into'tight engagement with one another when the damper is lin. closed position.

4. A dampercomprising two vertical damper members extending in proximity. Ywith one another, supporting means for said damper members providing for vertical movement of said members plates so as to vary the total aperture of the damper upon variation vof the relative position' of the damper members, means for operating said Vsupporting-means for the damper members to simultaneously'operate said members in opposite directions, and manually operated means for engaging one of the movable damper members to force the same into tight engagement with the other ldamper member. Y

5. A damper comprising two vertical parallel damper members extending in proximity to one another, a supporting shaft, flexibleV means mounted on said shaft to support said damper members in counter-balancing relation and to move said damper members vertically in opposite directions by rotation of said shaft, said damper members being each provided with a plurality of bafe plates with intervening openings'so as to vary the total aperture of the damper in the relative vertical movement of the damper members. Y

6. A construction as set forth in claim 5 and comprising, in addition, means for rotating said supporting shaft.

CHARLES H. WEISKOPF.v 

